Split Leaf Philodendron
Monstera deliciosa
Philodendron-Split Leaf
The Split Leaf Philodendron, also called monstera deliciosa or swiss cheese plant, is a large, popular, easy- care houseplant that is not really in the philodendron family. There is a great deal of confusion about what to call this plant; the various names have become inter-changeable over the years such as: windowleaf plant, ceriman, and Mexican breadfruit plant. Whatever we call them, these plants are native to the jungles of Mexico, Panama, and India, have big glossy heart- shaped leaves that, as the plant matures, split from the leaf edge to the center vein. These slits in the leaves are called cuts. A split leaf philodendron grows rapidly and often has leaves that are up to 3ft. long and 2ft. wide. If you want a big, tropical, low maintenance plant, this one is perfect. The leaves, stems, and roots of a split leaf philodendron contain oxalic acid. The only part of the plant that is not poisonousPlants are a great addition to homes and offices, but it’s important to know whether your plants are dangerous to children, pets, or even adults. Some plants contain chemicals such as oxalates, solanine, glycosides, or alkaloid lycorine that may cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, swelling and redness of the mouth, throat, and lips, and trouble breathing. Touching parts of certain plants, especially the sap, may cause various skin irritations. The weight and age of the human or pet involved, and the part and amount of plant eaten determine how severe the reaction to the toxins will be. Although plants may be listed as non-toxic, they can still cause individual allergic reactions. If there is any question after a houseplant has been ingested or touched immediately call the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222 The Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants [Paperback]is an excellent reference to keep around if you have young children and pets. is the delicious fruit it produces in nature.
Read more about common houseplants that are poisonous in Don’t Feed Me To Your Cat! A Guide to Poisonous Houseplants
Light
A split leaf philodendron needs medium to bright lightVery few houseplants should be placed in direct sun. High light refers only to bright indirect light since direct sun often burns the leaves of indoor houseplants. An area that is too hot and dry encourages Spider Mites and causes blooms to quickly fade. A northern exposure really doesn't provide enough light for high light plants. These plants need to be placed directly in front of an east-facing window, within 1-3 feet of a west-facing window, and within 5 ft. of a south facing window. A high light area has over 300 ft. candles of light.. It can survive in lower light, but the leaves won't split and the plant becomes leggy. Keep it out of the direct sun.
Water
Water well until the water drains out the drip holes in the bottom of the pot. Allow the top 25-30% of the soil to dry out before watering again. Keep the soil damp but never soggy. Water droplets or perspiration on the leaves indicate over-watering; brown leaf edges indicate under watering.
Fertilizer
Feed every two weeks when the plant is actively growing with a balanced plant food diluted to 1/2 the recommended strength.
Temperature
This plant prefers warm temperatures and doesn't do well in temperatures below 50°F (10°C) .
Humidity
Split leaf philodendrons grow better in high humidity, but adapt to household humidity.
Flowering
A split leaf philodendron rarely flowers when grown as a houseplant.
Pests
Split leaf philodendrons are fairly immune to Plant PestLearn how to identify and treat the plant pest called Whitefly at https://www.houseplant411.com/glossary/whitefly-plant-pestss; but If Mealy BugsLearn how to identify and treat Mealy Bugs, a houseplant pest that leaves sticky, white, cottony residue on houseplants., spider mitesLearn how to identify and treat Spider Mites on plants. This sucking plant pest causes yellow blotchy leaves with a red haze and a gritty feel to them., AphidsSee a picture, learn to identify, and read about Aphid houseplant pests in the Glossary of Houseplant411.com., or scaleSoft Brown Scale is the most common scale that attacks indoor houseplants especially ficus, ivy, spider plants, ferns, aralia, and schefflera. It appears as small bumpy brown spots that appear to move. As the scale sucks on the sap of the plant it secretes a sticky substance called honeydew. The honeydew attracts black mildew. Because of the shell-like exterior, sprays are only partially effective against scale. Wipe off the lines of brown oval bumps with your finger, a cloth, or a child’s toothbrush then spray the plant with Neem Oil. Use the Green Solution to clean off the black mildew. appear, use the green solutionIf you don't want to use a commercial chemical product to treat plant pest problems try the “Green Solution.” This is a mixture of water, alcohol, biodegradable liquid soap, and mineral oil. Always test any spray on one or two leaves to be sure it won’t damage the plant. Depending upon how severe the infestation is, you can use these ingredients in varying proportions. If there are only a few pests, dip a Q-tip in alcohol and gently swab them off. For a more widespread problem, start by using a spray of warm water mixed with a few tablespoons of biodegradable soap. If that doesn’t cure the problem, make a solution using 8oz. water & 8oz. alcohol, add two tablespoons of biodegradable soap and two tablespoons of mineral oil. Spray all areas of the plant. Use this solution on leathery leafed plants (except palms), never on fuzzy leafed plants like African Violets or Begonias. For palms, omit the alcohol from the Green Solution. Never spray a plant that’s sitting in the sun or one with very dry soil.
(recipe in Glossary).
Diseases
Watch out for bacterial diseases such as Erwinia Blight, Xanthomonas leaf spot, and leaf tip burn especially in warm, humid environments.
Soil
Does well in a rich soil that contains a good amount of peat moss. The soil needs to drain quickly to prevent root rot.
Pot Size
Unlike most indoor plants, a split leaf philodendron prefers to be in a large pot. These bigger pots promote larger leaves.
Pruning
Try to keep the large leaves clean and dust free. This plant needs to be aggressively trimmed or it can take over your room.
Propagation
Propagate using Stem CuttingsLearn how to propagate plants using stem cuttings, leaf cuttings, cane cuttings, and branch cuttings.. Be sure to include a few leaves and a few plant nodes on each cutting and to allow the cutting to sit out over night before planting. This helps prevent the developing roots from rotting.
Poisonous Plant Info
Split leaf philodendrons are very Poisonous HouseplantsIn her new book, Don’t Feed Me to Your Cat!, plant care professional Judy Feldstein shares information about twenty-five common houseplants, each with various levels of toxicity, and the possible consequences if your pet or child snacks on them. with a #2 toxicity levelThese are general guidelines that describe how poisonous certain houseplants are. It's possible for an allergic reaction to occur from contact with any houseplant, toxic or non-toxic. If there is ever a concern, call: Poison Control Center: ******1-800-222-1222******
Level #1: Houseplants with low toxicity, may be mildly irritating, especially the sap of the plant.
Level#2: Houseplants with medium to severe toxicity. Eating parts of these houseplants may result in vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, skin irritations, and breathing difficulties.
Level #3: These houseplants are very poisonous. When eaten, especially in large quantities, severe vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, skin irritations, and breathing difficulties can occur.
Level #4: These houseplants are extremely poisonous. Eating parts of these houseplants can be be life threatening.
Every plant listed in our Popular HousePlant guide has a section explaining whether or not it is poisonous and, if so, how poisonous. Amaryllis, alocasia, dieffenbachias, crotons, ivies, azaleas, lilies, and philodendrons are just a few of the highly poisonous plants we use in our homes and offices all of the time. If you don't know whether your houseplant is poisonous, go to Ask Judy on the HousePlant411.com website, send her a picture of your plant, and she'll let you know if the houseplant should be kept away from small children and pets.
See colorful pictures and get more information about poisonous houseplants in
Don’t Feed Me To Your Cat! A Guide to Poisonous Houseplants
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Why does my split leaf philodendron have brown leaves?
Brown leaves and edges on a split leaf philodendron usually mean that the plant needs more water, especially in the warm weather; or more humidity, especially in the winter when the heat is on. Keep the soil a little moist but never soggy. To increase the humidity, you may have to put your plant on a tray of pebbles filled with water (be sure the plant sits on the pebbles and not in the water), use a humidifier near the plant, or group three or four plants together to increase the humidity.
The bottom leaves on my split leaf philodendron keep turning yellow and dying.
Sounds like your split leaf philodendron is over watered. Reduce your water and move the plant to a brighter, warmer location so the soil has a chance to dry out faster.
The new leaves on my split leaf philodendron are small and never split or get those great cuts in them. What could be causing this?
Leaves are small and don't develop splits, or cuts as they are sometimes called, occurs when the plant is not getting enough light. Move the plant closer to a window but avoid direct sun..
What are those long brown stem-like things that are growing off my split leaf philodendron?
I think the long, brown stem-like things you are referring to on your split leaf philodendron are air roots. In nature, these air roots help support the very weak-stemmed split leaf philodendron. You can plant them in the soil to give the plant more stability or but cut them off if you find them too unattractive.
How often should I repot my split leaf philodendron?
A split leaf philodendron likes to have plenty of room for its roots. Larger pots encourage larger leaves. If you want your split leaf philodendron to keep getting larger, repot annually. If you want to limit the size of your plant, stop repotting it.
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